OTTOMAN TURKEY, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

A group of small enamelled zarfs, some signed and dated, share with our incense burner similar decoration in bright polychrome enamels on gilt-copper ground. A number have appeared at auction and some are published - see for example one in the Keir Collection which is signed Taqi, and dated AH 1174/1760 AD (B.W. Robinson et al, Islamic Art in the Keir Collection, London, 1988, pp.134-145, no.M21). They have traditionally been attributed to Zand Iran. They share their colouring also with a group of daggers also usually described as Zand or Qajar, but occasionally also to Ottoman Syria. For one catalogued as Zand, with similar two-tone pink flowers to those seen on our incense burner, see an example that sold in these Rooms, 23 October 2007, lot 304. The Syrian attribution was proposed based on one in the Metropolitan Museum which is signed by a master with the nisba ‘al-Dimishqi’ who is likely to have worked in or come from Damascus (inv.no.32.75.263; David Alexander, The Arts of War, London, 1992, pp.146-147). Our incense burner, which is typically Ottoman in form supports an Ottoman attribution as opposed to a Persian one for this group of enamelled gilt-copper objects.

An Ottoman enamelled tombak incense burner, with somewhat flatter enamelling than ours and dated to circa 1800 was sold at Sotheby’s, 5 October 2011, lot 361. Another incense burner with similar enamels but on a silver filigree base is in the State Hermitage Museum, catalogued as 18th century Ottoman (inv.T-422; Mikhail B. Piotrovsly and Anton D. Pritula ed. Beyond the Palace Walls. Exhibition Catalogue, 2006, no.114, p.116).